Sasquatch sightings reported at Quarry Springs Park

COLFAX – For hundreds of years, people have been on the hunt for Sasquatch. Bigfoot enthusiasts would spend months combing the forests of the Pacific Northwest, hoping for merely a glimpse of the 10-foot hairball.

After centuries of being hunted, the American legend is now on the hunt for you – and all you can do is run away.

For the second year, Quarry Springs Park will host an off-road 5K Aug. 26, as part of Colfax’s Mineral Springs Day celebration.

According to organizer, Dave Hostetter, the park has received multiple reports of Bigfoot sightings. This means, the hairy legend will most likely make a return to Quarry Springs Park to terrorize participants during the event.

“(I think) Sasquatch will be back out there. He’ll be over there scaring people,” he said. “I’m not sure where he will be this year. Probably a place with shade.”

In the race, which begins at 9 a.m., participants will have to run through a variety of obstacles, from sprinting up and down sand dunes to crossing 20 feet of ankle-deep water, all while possibly avoiding an encounter with a giant cryptid.

“It is more than your standard 5K... There is a lot of different terrain. It is a lot of fun,” Hostetter said. “I think we had 50 people last year. We hope to improve that this year.”

As last year’s race featured custom, Sasquatch-inspired medals, the event organizer said this year’s event will continue in that fashion, awarding the top three male and female runners a unique trophy for finishing and surviving the possible Bigfoot encounter the fastest.

“The medal is custom made. It has a picture of an osprey catching a fish and it is also a bottle opener,” he said. “Last year, we had a few young kids that ran. We had a little toy Sasquatch we gave the first prize youth. We’ll probably do that again.”

New this year, registrants will receive a dog tag for participating in the 5K. According to Hostetter, people can get their dog tags custom engraved at the event.

“Everyone will get a blank dog tag and they can get whatever they want printed on it. That comes with registration. I thought that would be cool,” he said. “You can put your time and place, or whatever you want to put on it.”

Runners will also receive a T-shirt for participating in the run. Shugar’s has donated water for the surviving participants and Cratty Shack will also return to serve ice cream following the race.

“The main reason we (organized) this run is to get more people out and show them the park, and get more people come back and visit,” Hostetter said. “I run quite a few races. I did a race I wanted to run. I’m not so much of a plain, street race. I like the whole off-road idea.”

The proceeds of the race will benefit Quarry Springs Park.

Registration for the race costs $20, and will increase to $25 the day of the event. Race-day registration will be from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. To register online, visit getmeregistered.com/quarrysprings5k.

For more information call 515-478-6272, visit colfanorthpark.com or find the Quarry Springs Park 5K Run/Walk event on Facebook.

Contact Anthony Victor Reyes at areyes@jaspercountytribune.com